Looking into a new school year at James Logan High School, from freshman to seniors, they’re all special in their own way, meaning these students all have different talents. As a new school year comes to Logan, one thing never changes – the talent of the students. From Freshmen to Seniors, they all shine in their own way.
Senior Janessa Laguio, also known as “Kiyomi” shows her talents by singing R&B and making music.
“I was just messing around and came up with something…I sent it to my friend…he said it was good, so we collaborated and I just went on from there,” Laguio said.
She has always sung but began to make more serious music during the summer of 2017. After releasing her music to the public, she’s still a regular teenager just like many of us, but also gets many compliments on her music at school, and more and more of our James Logan students begin to appreciate her music, and recognize her every day.
Sophomore, Leanna Gacayan said, “…I’ve known Janessa for a few years now, and seeing her progress makes me happy to see how far she’s gone…”
Although Janessa makes music for entertainment, there’s also a personal meaning behind it.
“…Creating music, I like the feeling of finishing songs and having the ability to just make my own music…I like meeting new people and the experiences that come with it…” Laguio said.
For anyone that is afraid to express their voice at James Logan, “make what you think sounds good, don’t try to be like anybody else, just stay true to yourself.” Laguio said.
Taking a look into another James Logan student’s life, Senior Josiah Mendoza also has a talent that he gladly expresses at school, makeup.
He started off by using only a little bit of makeup at Logan, such as eyebrow makeup then as he grew up, he progressed. He began doing makeup as an artistic expression.
“It’s like a form of art and art is interesting…I’m very artistically free…but everyone has their different ways of expressing it, so mine was just by using brushes on a face,” Mendoza said.
At first, Mendoza wasn’t as comfortable doing his makeup his freshman year because “when you’re young you’re kind of awkward and you see other people around you and you’re kind of intimidated by them…” But as he grew older and wiser, being in high school, he learned to express his talents and show it off.
“Being here, I knew so many people that had already known me as ‘different’, now I’m here as a different person [with makeup]…it feels way better to be able to wear makeup like confidently…I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable.”
Everyone has the right to feel free and comfortable to be themselves, especially at James Logan.
Now, taking one last glimpse into another fellow Colt’s life, Senior Jacqueline Mang shares with us her talent, art. She practices many forms of art but primarily painting. Jacqueline has been painting since she was five- years -old and has brought it into our James Logan community.
“It started when I was kind of like scribbling it around and stuff on tables and my parents kind of just thought ‘oh she can take art classes or something’” Mang said.
She expresses her art at Logan by interacting with other art students and creating art together, such as group art projects that she’s worked on in her AP art class and a mural she helped create in the 300’s.
She has expanded her art around James Logan by submitting to the school Art Show and competitions such as The Scholastic Art and Writing competition, for which she won the “Silver Key Award,” Mang believes more people should embrace their artistic side.
“Never be embarrassed about your art, because what you see, what you might be insecure about in your work, other people might see the beauty in it, and it’s always great to share what you like to do, with people, because there are people out there that care about what you do.”
Logan students clearly are comfortable with expressing themselves and their talents in and out of school. Because after all, we are one big community striving together with our intelligence, integrity, and interconnectedness.
Do you have an amazing talent you want to share? Share your story below! Everyone has a story, and we’d love to read all about it!
